Billfold



BILLFOLD Filed May 31. 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet l March 21, 1944. L `L GARDNER 2,344,694

` Filed Mgyzl. 19407 2 sheets-sheet 2 ir 5l ff f ni l n meend Mu. 121, 1944 OFFICE BnLFoLD Leah L. Gardner, University city, M0.

Application May 31, 1940, Serial No. 338,197

In Canada March 13, 1940 Claims. (Cl. 15o-35) This invention relates to bill folds of that type having pockets for receiving bills of currency and other papers, and cooperating pockets for receiving other articles.

Objects of the invention are to provide a bill fold having an elongated pocket formed by an outer wall extending the full length of the bill fold, two longitudinally spaced walls, and a panel having one end attached to the inner end of one of said last named walls and concealed by a transverse or vertical frame part secured to the inner end of one of said last named walls by attaching means concealed by a part of the frame that supports a transparent pocket forming wall; to provide ,ilexiblenconnection within a longitudinally spaced short\pocket securing the other end of the panel therein; and to provide an improved bill fold having* a detachable and replaceable pocket insertable into and withdrawable from said short pocket, and means for holding said removable and replaceable pocket in connection with the bill fold and providing a closure therefor.

Another object is to improve generally the construction, arrangement and cooperative relationship of the elements which may be either `integrally or artificially attached as preferred.

Other objects will appear from the following description, reference being made to the annexed drawings, in which- Fig. 1 is an inside plan view of an embodiment of my improved bill fold in which the exposed walls are integrally united and secured in cooperative folded relationship without the use of visible attaching means.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal diagrammatic secitional view on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1. f

Figs. 3 and '4 are transverse. diagrammatic' sectional views on the lines 3-3 and 4 4, respectively, of Fig. 1.

`Flg. 5 is an inside plan view of one of the smaller pockets of the `bill fold from which the removable and replaceable pocket has been withdrawn.

Fig. 6 is 'a perspective view of the removable and replaceable pocket detached from the bill fold.

Fig. 7 is a sectional view on the line 1 1 of Fig. 6, showing the expansible bellows formation of the removable and replaceable pocket.

Fig. 8 is anA inside plan view of an embodiment of the invention in which the walls forming the short pockets are stitched to the elongated outer wall.

Fig. 9 is a diagrammatic sectional view on the line 9-1 of Fig. 8.

Figs. 10 and 11 are transverse diagrammatic sectional views on the lines I-IB and II-II, respectively, of Fig. 8. y

Fig. 12 is an inside plan view with a part of theinner exposed wall removed.

Fig. 13 is a perspective View of the removable and vreplaceable pocket having its side edges attached together by lines of stitches.

. As shown in Figs. 1 to 5, the bill fold proper comprises an elongated outer wall I foldable transversely midway of its ends approximately along the line 2; a wall 3 of less width than the wall I and integral with one end thereof and having integral with its upper longitudinal edge a wall 4 folded downwardly between the walls I 'and 3 along a longitudinal fold line 5; and a relatively narrow wall 6 integral with the lower longitudinal edge of the wall I and folded upwardly against the outer exposed surface Wall 3 along a longitudinal fold line l parallel with the fold line 5. The walls 3-6 and 4 terminate short of the fold line 2 and form a pocket 2| opening in a direction away from the attachment of any of said walls to the outer wall I with respect to which said walls 3-6 and 4 are relatively short and. narrow.

Y An open frame is provided at the opposite end of the bill fold and comprises a narrow portion 8 integral with the end of the outer wall I, and an inwardly lextended Vupper portion 9 and a complementary inwardly extended lower portion I0 integrally connected at their inner ends by a vertical portion II complementary to the portion 8. A relatively narrow retaining wall I2 is formed integral with the lower longitudinal edge of the wall I below this frame, and is provided with an inwardly and downwardly folded margin I3 engaging along the inner side of the lower frame portion III and attached thereto throughout its length by concealed adhesive I3' to hold the frame extended inwardly toward the pocket formed by the walls 3, 4 and 6. A wall I4 is formed integral with the upper edge of the upper frame portion 9 and is extended downwardly at the inner side thereof. substantially below the lower side of the opening in the frame provided by said parts 8, 9, III and II. A panel I5 of transparent material covers or closes the opening in the frame and is attached to the several frame parts 8, 9, III and II by concealed adhesive I5', so that said panel may bend or flex with the bill fold but is otherwise immovable. The inner vertical frame part II vis formed with an inwardly turned margin IB (Fig. 2), and the inner end of the panel I5.is enclosed or confined between the frame part II and said margin I6. The margin I6 is attached to the panel I5 by adhesive I6'. The narrow wall 6 extends through a slot I1 in the wall 3 and interlocks therewith, the exposed portions of the walls 6 and I2 being of approximately equal area.

A panel I8 has one end extending into the opening of the pocket I9 formed by the wall I4 and the panel II in association with the frame parts 8, 9, I8 and II. The panel I8 does not extend into the pocket I9 beyond the frame part II, but its end is wholly covered by said frame part II. Vertical lines of stitches attach the panel I8 to the inner end of the wall I4, and these lines of stitches are wholly covered and concealed by the part II. The opposite end-of the panel I8 extends into the pocket 2| formed by the walls 3 and 4. pliable material 22 is attached'by stitches 22 to the end of the strip I8 within the pocket 2I and to the outer end of the wall 4 by stitches 22a, and is unattached to any other part of the bill fold.

A partition 23 is located in the elongated pocket formed between the outer Wall I and the inner wall comprising the walls 4 and I4 and the panel I8. The lower longitudinal edge of said partition 23 is attached to the lower longitudinal edge of the wall 4by a. line of stitches 24 which is wholly concealed by the Wall 3 and associated parts and is attached to the lower longitudinal edge of the wall I4 and, to the lower frame part I0 by a line of stitches 25 which is Wholly concealed by the wall or frame part II) and associated parts. In this way the partition 23 is held in the assembly and is prevented from being withdrawn therefrom and from longitudinal or other displacement. The partition 23 extends upwardly above the small pockets of the bill fold that are formed by the Walls 3 and 4 and by the wall I4 and panel I5, respectively.

The upper longitudinal margin 26 of the wall I is turned downwardly against the inner side thereof and is adhesively attached to the inner surface of the wall I. A curtain 21 is formed by the lower extended portion of the margin 26,` and said curtain is unattached tothe wall I but is free for adjustment to extend between the wall I and the partition 23, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, or to be extended downwardly against the outer surface of the partition 23 to cover the upper margin thereof as desired. The ends of the curtain 21 are defined by slits 28 beyond the ends of the partition 23, leaving the curtain 21 of slightly greater length' than the partition 23. 'I'he end portions 29 of the upper margin 26 are wholly beyond the ends of the partition 23 and extend downwardly into the elongated pocket. These end portions 29 cooperate with the curtain 21 to provide a finished appearance along the upper margin of the bill fold, irrespective of the position of the curtain 21.

The present invention comprises a pocket device adapted to extend into the pocket 2l to form a separate insertable and withdrawable pocket. The pocket device is shown detached in Fig. 6 and comprises a back wall 30 integrally united at one end With a front wall 3 I, and bellows folds 32 along and closing the sides of the pocket. The margins of the bellows folds 32 are attached to the margins of the wall I by adhesive 32', thereby providing an extendible and collapsible pocket A strip of exible and` receptacle. The unattached end of the wall 30 is extended to form a tab 33 which, when the device is inserted within the pocket 2l as in Figs. l and 2, may be folded against the exposed surface of the wall 3. A snap fastener 34 is attached to the wall 3l and extends through a hole 35 in the wall 3 for detachable engagement with a snap fastener element 36 secured to the tab 33. Thus, the withdrawable pocket receptacle may be secured to the bill fold in a manner in which the tab 33 cooperates with' the wall 3 to close substantially the open end of the space-31 that is between the wall 3 and the wall 3|, and also to close the open end of the insertable and withdrawable closure or compartment.

The bill fold shown in Figs. 8 and 9 comprises 'an elongated outer wall 38 and an elongated inner wall 39 forming between them a pocket 40;

walls 4I and 42 of less length and width than the wall 38 and integrally united at their upper edges; and an inner wall 43 integrally attached along its upper edge to a frame including an upper portion 44, an outer end portion 45, an inner end portion 46, and a bottom portion 41. A continuous line of stitches 48 attachestogether the upper margins of the walls 38 and 39, the outer ends and lower margins of the walls 38, 39, 4I and 42, and the outer ends and lower margins of the wall 43 and the frame formed integral therewith. This line of stitches is visible throughout its length. The upper portion of the Wall 39 is formed with a cutout opening 49 below the upper stitch line 48 and between the portions of said stitch line-at the ends of the bill fold. A section of textile material 50 extends between the upper margins of the walls 38 and 39 and. is engaged and'held by the stitch line 48. A similar strip of textile material is attached to the margin of the wall 39 below the opening 49 by a line of stitches 52, and zipper fasteners 53 are secured to the adjacent edges of said textile strips and controlled by a slide 54.

A transparent panel 55 is secured Within the open frame formed in connection with the wall 43 by adhesive 56. The inner margin 51 of the vertical frame part 46 is folded to enclose the inner end of the panel 55 and is secured thereto by the adhesive 56'. Q

A panel 58 overlaps the inner end of the wall 43 and is attached thereto by adhesive 59 and a line of stitches 60. 'I'he line' of stitches 60 is concealed by the frame part 46. The opposite end of the panel 58 extends into the space between the Walls 4I and 42 and is secured to the inner end o-f a textile section 6I by a yline of stitches 62. The outer end of said textile section is engaged by the line of stitches 48 at the end of the fold line.

In this form of the device, the removable and replaceable pocket comprises a wall 63 integrally united at one end with a wall 64 formed with bellows folds 65 along its edges the margins of which are attached to the wall 63 by lines of stitches 66, thereby forming an extendible and collapsible pocket. A tab `.61 is formed in connection with the wall 63 and may be folded against the exposed surface of the wall 4I when the device is within the pocket enclosedv by said wall 4I. A snap fastener member 68 is attached to the wall 64 and extends through a hole 69 in the wall 4I for detachable engagement with a cooperating snap fastener element 10 secured to the tab 61 to retain the withdrawable pocket receptacle within the bill fold and close the pocket formed thereby.

The device is capable of variation otherwise than as specifically shown and described and within the scope of equivalent limits without departure from the nature and principle of the invention.

I claim:

1. In a bill fold comprising an elongated outer wall having a transverse fold line inwardly from its ends, and relatively short andI narrow walls attached to one end and to the lower longitudinal edge of said outer wall and terminating short o f said fold line and forming a pocket opening in a direction away from said attachment thereof to said outer wall, the exposedshort wall having a hole therethrough; a front wall and a back wall connected along adjacent edges and forming a pocket having an open side and being insertable in and withdrawable from said rst named pocket, a fastener element attached to said front wall and being otherwise unattached to said back wall and removably extending' outwardly through said hole and leaving said second pocket open and unobstructed, a tab attached to said back wall and having a length to extend across said hole when said second pocket is in said rst pocket, and a fastener element attached to said tab for releasably engaging said first fastener element to close and also to hold said second pocket in said first pocket.

2. In a bill fold comprising elongated inner and outer wall-elements forming a long pocket arranged to receive an unfolded currency bill and having a transverse fold line midway of their ends, and relatively short and narrow walls at tached to one end of'both of said wall elements and to the lower longitudinal edge of said outer wall element and forming a pocket opening inwardly and enclosing one end portion of said inner wall element and terminating short of said foldline; walls of." different lengths forming a compartment insertable in and withdrawable /from said second pocket, a fastener element attached to the shorter one of said compartment Walls and removably extending outwardly through a hole in the exposed one of said short and narrow walls, a tab integral with the longer one of said compartment walls, and a fastener element attached to said tab for releasably engaging said iirst fastener element to close and to hold said compartment in said second pocket.

3. In a bill fold comprising elongated inner and outer wall elements having both ends attached together and forming a long pocket and also having a transverse fold line midway of their ends, relatively short and narrow walls attached to one end of both of said elements and to the lower-longitudinal edge of said outer wall element and forming an inwardly open pocfzuet terminating short of said fold line, the exposed short wall having a hole therethrough; walls of different lengths connected together along one end and along their side edges and forming a compartment insertable in and withdrawable from tions foldable one upon the other about a cen tral fold line, a wall member secured to the inner face of one of said portions at its upper, bottom and one end edge to form a pocket opening ltoward said fold line, a case forming an auxiliary receptacle nested in said pocket, said case having a closure flap, fastening means for said flap consisting .of a snap fastener, one member of said fastener being carried by the flap and the other member being carried by the body of the case and projecting therefrom, said wall member being provided with an opening through which, when the case is fully nested in said pocket, .the last- Vnamed fastener extends,` the closure ilap of the s0-nested case being foldable over the free edge of the pocket forming wall to bring the members of the fastener into engagement to secure the case in the pocket and close both the case and the space between the case and said wall.

5. In a flexible pocket receptacle having portions foldable one upon the other about a central fold line, a wall member secured to the inner face of one of said portions at its bottom and one end edge to form a pocket opening in a direction away from said end edge, a case forming an auxiliary receptacle nested in said pocket, said case having a closure flap, and fastening means for said ilap consisting of a snap fastener one member of itener projects and is exposed, the closure flap of the so-nested case being foldable over the free edge of the pocket forming wall to bring the members of the `fastener into engagement through said opening to secure the case in the V,pocket and close both the case and the space between the case and said wall.

LEAH n GARDNER. 

